A QUICK LOOK BACK AT THE 2018 STATE TOURNAMENT

There was plenty of excitment at the 2018 Iowa high school state baseball tournament — 11 one-run games, three walk-off victories and one extra-inning game. Six home runs were hit — bringing the total to 54 at Principal Park — and two one-hitters thrown. There were some stunning upsets, and an 8-seed made it to the championship game. And there were a lot of familiar teams among the 32 qualifiers.

Traditional powers Assumption and Newman Catholic led the way by winning state championships — both successfully defending titles they won a year ago and adding to their standing in the all-time record book.

Assumption won the 3A title, its all-time state record 11th summer state championship. The Knights are 37-5 in summer state tournament games — the all-time state record for most victories. Assumption outscored its foes 18-2 at state, with its pitchers combining for a 0.70 earned-run average and 30 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .092 batting average. The Knights’ Nick Gottilla set an all-time state championship game record with five hits.

Newman won the 1A title, its seventh summer state championship. The Knights made their 11th straight and 22nd overall summer state tournament appearance — both all-time state records. Their 11th straight trip to the semifinals is also an all-time state best. Newman shut out its first two foes at state, and outscored all opponents 25-5. The Knights allowed all five runs in one inning, keeping opponents scoreless in the other 18 innings of play. In the championship game, Evan Paulus crushed a home run to right field — the ball bounced around and almost rolled into the Des Moines River.

Centerville won the 2A title — adding to 3A titles it won in 1988 and 2008. The Big Reds were the 6-seed in the field, but knocked off the 3-2-1 seeds in order to win the title. Centerville led the entire tournament with a .364 batting average and in hitting .419 with runners in scoring position.

Urbandale won the 4A title — adding to titles it won in 2000 and 2007. The J-Hawks beat the 7-6-8 seeds to with the championship. They led the tournament with eight HBP.

Cedar Rapids Washington became the fifth 8-seed to knock off a 1-seed in the first round, and the second 8-seed to make it to the championship game. The 8-seeds have lost 13-0 and 3-0 in title games.

The tournament enjoyed perhaps the best weather in its 14-year run at Principal Park. There were no rain delays, and play on the field ran smoothly — five games finished in under 90 minutes. Attendance totaled 27,533 to push the total at Principal Park to 424,553.